Chapter 57 - The First-Rate Warrior Who Astonished the Divine Sword (5)

Namgung Taeha first picked up a sword at the age of six, and over his half-century of navigating Jianghu, he believed he had experienced unimaginable events and met all sorts of extraordinary figures.

He thought nothing could surprise him now that he was past sixty, but the words that had just popped out of the mouth of the young man in front of him, who had not even reached twenty, startled him.

"Give you what?"

"I said the Cangqiong Merchant Group."

"Hah..."

A scoff slipped out at the utterly absurd words.

"Are you intentionally making an unreasonable demand so I'll refuse?"

"If I possess what the Divine Sword mentioned, wouldn't this be an opportunity? There is no reason for me to refuse."

An unwavering attitude and a monotone voice.

Was this young man truly serious about such a ridiculous condition?

"Are you asking me to hand over my house just to catch a bedbug?"

The Cangqiong Merchant Group was the largest foundation sustaining the Namgung Clan.

Asking for the Cangqiong Merchant Group was no different from asking for all of the Namgung Clan's assets.

"The rafters are on fire. Shouldn't you quickly tear them down before the pillars themselves burn to the ground?"

"...?"

The words of this arrogant young man were strange.

He had definitely never mentioned it, so what did this young man know?

"What are you talking about?"

"Isn't there a problem with the branch line? And you called me here because of that."

"!!"

Had their internal problems leaked outside?

That couldn't be. No one in the Namgung Clan wanted such a shameful situation to be known.

Moreover, the branch line harboring treasonous intent would never publicly reveal their plans.

If they did, they would immediately be suspected, and their crimes would be fully exposed.

Wasn't the branch line's thorough silencing the very reason they hadn't been able to find the mastermind behind the attack on his grandson and granddaughter at Mount Gueom?

Even if rumors had spread secretly, that young man was merely a disciple of the Taiyi Sect. There was absolutely no way he could know the inner workings of the Namgung Clan so thoroughly.

"... Could it be."

As his thoughts reached that point, he began to grow curious about Jin Sowoon's very identity.

The feeling that he was by no means just a disciple of the Taiyi Sect.

As suspicion arose, his intent moved his internal energy and began exuding intense killing intent.

The young man seemed to possess extraordinary internal energy and talent, but this was a level of killing intent that could never be withstood with just that much.

"How do you know about that matter?"

"...!"

"Speak. This is an important question where your life or death might be decided based on your answer."

He radiated a killing intent that even Namgung Jinmyeong would not be able to withstand if struck directly, but surprisingly, the young man only furrowed his brow and was enduring it steadfastly.

Thinking he might have emitted a weak killing intent by mistake, he looked over at Namgung San standing off to one side.

Namgung San, who had sensed the seriousness of the conversation from afar and stayed back, was utterly terrified by the killing intent extending from his grandfather's body and had retreated to the very edge of Daeyeon Hall to avoid it.

'What on earth...'

While Namgung Taeha was surprised, Jin Sowoon began to continue speaking.

"... I first grew suspicious when Senior Namgung San came to find the Admission Token. The power of the Five Great Noble Clans shouldn't be so weak that they couldn't even pass the Murim Academy's standard exam. Yet, he desperately tried to snatch the Admission Token away."

Killing intent is a fear that stimulates the instincts.

Even for those who had trained their minds to the extreme, withstanding the killing intent he emitted in earnest was a distant possibility.

"Secondly, I obtained my second clue when Lady Seonhwa came to the Demonic Spirit Plateau to find the Amitabha Holy Water. Considering the Daeyeon Divine Pill received once every five years and the Namgung Clan's outstanding orthodox mental cultivation method, the Amitabha Holy Water wasn't a spiritual elixir worth risking one's life to find while competing with the Underworld."

"..."

Enduring killing intent is only possible if one has experienced being struck by an even greater killing intent before.

However, what possible reason would a young man not even twenty years old have to experience a killing intent stronger than that of the Divine Sword?

"The third was the attack at Mount Gueom. Despite a force of five hundred mobilizing to attack the direct line of the Namgung Clan in Anhui Province, which is practically the clan's own backyard, the fact that the Namgung Clan didn't know about their movements beforehand means that their eyes and ears weren't doing their jobs."

He continued speaking to the end, even while sweating profusely and his face turning pale.

More than his comprehension of martial arts, more than the tremendous internal energy he possessed despite his unknown origins, Namgung Taeha could not help but marvel at the mental fortitude that withstood his killing intent.

It was as if he were someone who had crossed a hell where this level of killing intent was nothing.

"The fourth was because the Divine Sword said you would obtain that swordsmanship I supposedly don't know, no matter the price. Now that you understand, could you please release your killing intent? It's becoming hard to endure any longer."

"..."

Having heard the whole story, Namgung Taeha withdrew his killing intent.

THUD.

Jin Sowoon collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

Namgung Taeha shared his honest impression.

"... For the first time in my life, I feel a sense of awe toward an opponent."

"..."

Even though someone known as the Azure Emperor Divine Sword had praised him, Jin Sowoon gave no reply.

"Are you angry?"

Thinking the kid might be sulking because he had emitted his killing intent too strongly, he approached him, only to find that Jin Sowoon had fainted with blood trickling down his mouth.

"Hah... Did he hold his ground until he reached this state?"

Namgung Taeha had never seen such a relentless person before.

Furthermore, as he watched Namgung San—who had been observing from a distance—run over after seeing Jin Sowoon fall, he finally understood why that child had no choice but to lose.

* * *

Late at night.

The three key figures of the Taiyi Sect—Hong Mungi, Kang Chaeseok, and Jin Taesan—who had spent the entire day busy, gathered together, each holding a bottle of alcohol.

"It's been so long since we all saw each other."

At Hong Mungi's words, Kang Chaeseok and Jin Taesan smiled bitterly.

In the past, they would gather like this to share drinks every other day, but lately, they were so dizzyingly busy every day that they barely had time to catch up on their lacking sleep.

Of course, it went without saying who was responsible for making them this busy.

"You said you had something important to discuss?"

They had gathered today because Jin Taesan said he had a 'very important matter to discuss.'

Dark circles cast shadows under Hong Mungi and Kang Chaeseok's eyes; they looked like they wanted to return to their sleeping quarters right this instant.

"But why did you call me here? I've been so distracted because of that kid Yuseong lately."

One day, an escort abruptly arrived with four children in tow.

The letter delivered by the oldest-looking boy contained the absurd message that Jin Sowoon had agreed to accept them as disciples of the Taiyi Sect and requested that they be taken care of.

"Even now, just thinking about that time makes my... ugh, my head ache."

"So do you hate it?"

Kang Chaeseok grabbed his head and picked up his glass.

Despite that, a faint smile lingered around his mouth.

Since the Busaeng Hall course for the fourth-generation disciples had all ended, to teach Yuseong, he would have had to make him wait until the next generation of Busaeng Hall disciples entered.

However, if he did that, Yuseong could miss the crucial period to learn martial arts due to his already awkward age of fourteen.

In the end, he had no choice but to give him private lessons to catch up to the progress of the disciples attending Kwaehwa Hall.

Surprisingly, however, Yuseong's comprehension was far superior to any disciple in the sect's history.

Hearing one to understand ten.

A genius who comprehended ten things when taught just one.

Even though it hadn't been long since he entered the Busaeng Hall course, he had already acquired enough skill that he wouldn't be lacking even if he entered Kwaehwa Hall.

"Perhaps, that kid will become the greatest talent of the Taiyi Sect."

Kang Chaeseok, who was burning both day and night giving Kang Yuseong private lessons, burst into a hearty laugh, forgetting his exhaustion, and Jin Taesan smiled bitterly watching him.

"Actually, that's why I called you too."

"Huh?"

"You'll have to teach one more disciple."

"... What do you mean? Did that punk Sowoon send someone else?"

"He did send him, yes."

"...?"

"...?"

Kang Chaeseok looked at Hong Mungi.

As far as he knew, there was definitely no one newly sent by Jin Sowoon like Yuseong and his siblings.

However, Hong Mungi also seemed completely clueless about this.

"Isn't there Zhuge Cheongi?"

"...?"

Kang Chaeseok picked his ear.

"Did I hear that wrong?"

Jin Taesan was still smiling bitterly.

Kang Chaeseok was appalled.

"Hey, man! Cut it out with the jokes! What are you doing dragging a tired person out here for no reason!"

"It's not a joke."

"..."

Jin Taesan spoke to Hong Mungi.

"Zhuge Cheongi... that boy says he wants to learn the martial arts of the Taiyi Sect."

"... Is that even possible?"

"It would be if the Sect Leader gives his permission."

"... No, I mean, would the Zhuge Clan allow it?"

Jin Taesan had said the exact same thing when he first heard it from Zhuge Cheongi.

Then Zhuge Cheongi handed a letter to Jin Taesan.

Jin Taesan carefully handed that letter to Hong Mungi.

"It's a letter sent by Zhuge Hyeon-un, the Patriarch of the Zhuge Clan and Zhuge Cheongi's father."

Hong Mungi quickly took the letter and read through it rapidly.

As he set the letter down, Hong Mungi's eyes widened like a rabbit's.

"The Zhuge Clan says that studying as a true disciple is not possible, but they would be grateful if we accepted him as a lay disciple."

"... I don't understand."

It was nothing new for a member of a noble clan to join a sect as a lay disciple.

Even for the children of the Five Great Noble Clans, it was incredibly common for them to become lay disciples of the Nine Sects and One Gang if their family's martial arts didn't suit them.

However, for the Zhuge Clan, one of the world's Five Great Noble Clans, to join the Taiyi Sect—which sat at the very bottom of the 108 Peaks—as a lay disciple was something he couldn't comprehend, even from his perspective as the Sect Leader.

"... Hah, truly."

"He said he made a promise to the Patriarch when he left the family. Once he becomes capable of protecting his own body, Yeong-yeong will no longer have to work as a shadow warrior. Because of that, his will to learn martial arts is strong."

Hearing the inner story made him feel like he couldn't refuse, but a lingering feeling of discomfort remained because the boy was specifically setting aside his family's powerful martial arts to learn the Taiyi Sect's martial arts.

"It seems Cheongi strongly insisted on being in the same sect as his sworn brother, Sowoon."

At those words, Hong Mungi couldn't help but burst into a hearty laugh.

"You really had one hell of a son."

"... He is also your disciple, Sect Leader."

"Can the relationship between a master and disciple compare to that of a father and son?"

"What will you do?"

"What can I do? We cannot turn away someone who wishes to receive the teachings of the Taiyi Sect. Hall Leader Kang Chaeseok will just have to suffer a bit more in the future."

"... Damn it. That bastard Sowoon is making me suffer from a thousand li away."

Though he grumbled, a smile still lingered on Kang Chaeseok's lips.

Educating excellent talents had always brought him great fulfillment, after all.

"I was actually starting to run out of things to teach Yuseong anyway."

"Already?"

"Don't even get me started. I thought only his comprehension was amazing. He is an unbelievably relentless hard worker. I've never even seen him sleep."

Kang Chaeseok shook his head as if he were fed up.

"I just hope that kid Zhuge Cheongi isn't like Yuseong. It's my first time realizing that teaching a genius is such nerve-wracking work."

Hong Mungi looked at Jin Taesan and asked.

"How are the finances?"

With various incidents occurring in the Taiyi Sect recently, the winds of change were blowing, but that conversely meant there were more places to spend money.

"We are holding out to some extent, but our finances will soon hit rock bottom."

"... Hmm, I don't know whether I should be happy about this or not."

"You should be happy. We're developing, after all. For now, the mine is slowly producing iron ore, so we should be able to hold out for a while."

Developing the iron ore mine required time.

"The Lord of Wangga Manor sent word asking how we would feel about setting up a merchant group."

"A merchant group?"

"Yes. Since we have an iron ore mine anyway, he suggested we use it as a foundation to build financial stability. He said he would help with the initial investment."

"I am deeply overwhelmed by the Lord of Wangga Manor's consideration. Please pass on my thanks."

"Understood."

"However, if we are to set up a merchant group, we will have to set it up in Hefei. But doesn't the Cangqiong Merchant Group already exist in Hefei?"

Hefei was precisely where the headquarters of the Namgung Clan's Cangqiong Merchant Group was located.

Knowing that all of the Namgung Clan's commercial activities were carried out with the Cangqiong Merchant Group at the center, the three men could not easily open their mouths.

"For now, he suggested focusing primarily on the iron ore trade. We would slowly expand our items, centered around smithies and ironworks."

"Even with Wangga Manor's help, there's no need to provoke the Namgung Clan's temper. It seems our first priority should be to inquire with the Namgung Clan and figure out if it's acceptable for us to enter the ironworks sector."

"Understood."

Hong Mungi looked at Jin Taesan and Kang Chaeseok and spoke.

"I know both of you are working hard. Still, I'd like you to push yourselves just a little bit more. I don't think these changes to the Taiyi Sect are a bad thing."

"We feel the same way."

"Needless to say!"

With small smiles hanging on each of their lips, the three men swallowed down the bitter liquor without even touching the snacks.

* * *

That damn old man. To recklessly blast his killing intent like that.

If I hadn't had the experience of standing my ground against the Heavenly Demon Black Sword Squad in my past life, it would have been more than enough to make me run away.

At first, I endured out of pride, and in the end, I held on through sheer grit and tenacity before passing out, and when I came to, it was morning.

Looking around, I wasn't in the Sovereign Pavilion.

A moment later, a maidservant entered.

"Have you awakened?"

"Where is this?"

"This is Daeyeon Hall."

"... Do you mean the Patriarch's quarters?"

"Yes. The Patriarch is waiting for you at the training ground."

After the maidservant left, I properly adjusted my clothes and headed outside.

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword was gazing at the summit of Mount Huang from the training ground.

"You're awake."

The playful demeanor from the previous day had vanished.

Because of what happened yesterday, I deliberately avoided answering.

"... I apologize. It was simply too difficult to believe the words you were saying."

My eyebrows twitched without my realizing it. To think that the great Azure Emperor Divine Sword would apologize to someone like me, a mere junior in the martial world.

Now that it had come to this, I couldn't continue to be stubborn either.

"It's fine. From your perspective, Patriarch, it was a situation worthy of suspicion."

"... Dealing with you doesn't feel like dealing with a young man. It feels exactly like dealing with a sly old demonic master."

After saying something that I couldn't tell was a compliment or an insult, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword drew his sword.

"For our discussion to progress, we will first need evidence that guarantees your life, right? Only then does it seem our discussion can move forward."

Saying so, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword began to perform a sword dance.

Though he undoubtedly started with the starting stance of the Cangqiong Boundless Sword Technique, his swordsmanship began to mutate somewhat strangely.

"..."

And in the end, it had transformed into a completely different martial art.

Everywhere its sword path traveled, it blocked the vital paths of the Cangqiong Boundless Sword Technique and drove the sword into its fatal blind spots.

The intent behind the swordsmanship was blatantly aiming for the destruction of the Cangqiong Boundless Sword Technique.

"How is it?"

"... With this, my life has become even more endangered."

The Patriarch of the Namgung Clan was researching the destruction of the Cangqiong Boundless Sword Technique, which contained the profound secrets of his own family.

Compared to the Destruction Form created by Zhuge Cheongi, it lacked in many aspects, but anyone could see that the swordsmanship Namgung Taeha created was rejecting the Cangqiong Boundless Sword Technique.

"Hehehe. Don't worry. As long as you don't spill it, there will be no one who knows this secret."

"..."

"Now then, since I've guaranteed your life, shall we trade again? Do you have what I want?"

"I do."

"As expected. ... What is it that you truly want?"

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword asked again.

I gave the exact same answer as yesterday.

"I desire the Cangqiong Merchant Group."

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword furrowed his brow.

"Do you think that makes any sense?"

"To be exact, I want the Cangqiong Merchant Group's Hefei branch."

"Hmph! Hefei is not a branch. It is the headquarters of the Cangqiong Merchant Group. How is asking for that place any different from asking for the Namgung Merchant Group?"

"That is why I asked for the Hefei branch. Why is the headquarters of the Cangqiong Merchant Group in Hefei, and not in the Namgung Clan at Mount Huang?"

"That's... Naturally, because it's the center of transportation routes..."

Mid-sentence, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword shut his mouth tight.

The current crisis facing the Namgung Clan occurred because the main family and the merchant group's headquarters were separated.

It was true that the Namgung Clan's economic activities had entered a golden age thanks to the efforts of the branch line.

However, the existence of a headquarters separated from the main family weakened the main family's influence and drastically increased the influence of the branch line residing at the headquarters.

That was the primary cause bringing about the tragedy of the Namgung Clan right now.

"Don't you think there's a problem with your own words, Patriarch? While it's true that Hefei is the largest city in Anhui Province, it makes no sense for the subordinate active organizations, including the Cangqiong Merchant Group, to look toward the Hefei headquarters. Shouldn't the one they look toward be the Namgung Clan at Mount Huang?"

"Hah..."

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword let out a hollow laugh.

"Your single sentence makes me feel it's worth hundreds of millions of gold. Because of what you just said, I actually feel like giving you the Cangqiong Merchant Group in Hefei."

"To be exact, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword is not giving it to me. I am taking away the Divine Sword's greatest source of trouble and helping you."

"Hah, yes, yes. You are right."

The smile disappeared from the face of the Azure Emperor Divine Sword, who had been laughing hollowly.

"However, most things, including the Cangqiong Merchant Group, have already fallen into Namgung Songju's grasp. Even if I wanted to give it to you, the Council of Elders would not permit this abnormal trade, and at the same time, that child Namgung Songju would oppose it using any justification he could find."

"I will persuade the Merchant Group Leader of the Cangqiong Merchant Group."

"Huh? You'll persuade him?"

"Yes. In the end, he will have no choice but to give me the Hefei branch of the Cangqiong Merchant Group."

"..."

At the thought of how happy my father would be, the smile on my face wouldn't fade.